KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sushila Karki’s personal secretariat has addressed recent media reports claiming that Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, has pressured the government to remove Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal.

The statement underscores that decisions regarding the appointment or removal of ministers rest solely with the Prime Minister and cannot be influenced by outside pressure.

It also highlights that the current government was formed following the mandate expressed through the Gen Z movement.

“Minister Aryal, serving in these extraordinary circumstances, is working tirelessly to create a stable environment for the upcoming elections, maintain peace and security, and uphold the morale of security forces,” the release stated.

The secretariat called on all parties to avoid spreading or believing such rumors, given the sensitive nature of the situation.

Balen was reportedly dissatisfied that Home Minister Aryal could not take ‘action’ against then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, then-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and others as per Gen Z demands, and rumors were circulating that he was pressuring Prime Minister Karki to remove Aryal from his position.